The Mourning After (Horror) (IC)

[Neurotic]

Malix takes a quick look around for another something to grab, but doesn't waste time on it unless it is in his way out.
He follows the group warily, keeping an eye outward and memorizing the way wherever they are going, noticing city features, trying to find traces of Volstrucker network, hideouts, thieves guild and other useful 'features'.

 

[Leatherhead]

3rd of Zarantyr, 998 YK. Late Afternoon.
SE of the Vermishard of Blood ( AKA: The Kennels), Northshore District, Metrol, Cyre (?)

As sirens blair in the background, a gloomy rain welcomes you to your freedom. It reminds you of home, and will cover your tracks against the Vadalis Hounds. For a time, at least.

Lazharis guides the party though an ever twisting maze of streets and back alleys, where the posters hung on every wall offer a much more sinister greeting.

DO YOUR DUTY
THE QUEEN WILL SAVE US
DANNEL IS WATCHING



Blatant propaganda, the likes of which you haven’t seen since The War, since The Mourning. The event that rocked the world, blowing Cyre off the map. Or so you had thought.

After a while, you all arrive at a house, it looks more red than blue. Lazharis uses the buzzer, then knocks on the door in a rhythmic pattern. A small slit in one of the windows on the second floor opens, followed by the door itself.

Inside you find Vesile, and a human man. Who beckons you to come inside out of the rain. "Good to see they didn't take you out!"

Once inside, they offer everyone a seat at a large table. “We have a few questions for you.” The Hobgoblin says. “Who, exactly, are you? And where have you been hiding all this time?”

 

[MetaVoid]

Ozzar bristles at the goblinoid
"WE weren't hiding. Looks like you are the ones hiding!"
But calms as he realizes that nothing from his former life doesn't make sense here. He shrugs
"Something happened."

 

[JustinCase]

Even though the surroundings are unfamiliar, Maladiel feels at least a bit better as Vesile and the man start interrogating them. The backroom diplomacy of his former life is not too dissimilar from this very situation, and the half-elf finds himself donning his most pleasant smile again.

"We are the friends you need, even if you didn't know before. We are the investigators, the fixers, the ones who help people in need, and even though I never expected to be here --wherever 'here' is-- we were investigating disappearances before ending up here."

He pauses for dramatic effect, then continues, "My name is Maladiel, and this holiday trip is far more exciting than I had promised my friends. But here we are, and a good thing too, with that bird monster about to eat us all up!"

The arch of an eyebrow subtly reminds Vesile that if it wasn't for them, she wouldn't have been here, either.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Lazharis watched the newcomers quietly. They were an odd bunch, which he liked, but he wasn't entirely sure that there weren't some Shepherds hidden among them. This whole thing could be an elaborate plot to finish off this cell of the Unbroken. He thought wryly to himself, they'll find this cell is just about finished off already.

 

[Neurotic]

Malix slides through the door and remains there, half-hidden in the shadows of the room, standing so that anyone opening the door will have a nasty surprise from behind. He listens to the talk and observes their hosts, but says nothing.

OOC: Insight and Perception +5 and Investigation +0 if needed

 

[Hades#2]

Xian quietly entered the room with the others. They might be safe, for now. It was possible their captors had spies planted in this new group or in the group that escaped with them.
"I am Xian. My journey started with a trip to Gatherhold. We were talking to a member of House Vadalis and next I know I wake up in some sort of prison. Can you assist in providing additional information as to why we, and others , were in a prison? It is highly irregular!"

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Lazharis gave Xian a look. There was nothing irregular about being abducted to the Vadalis Kennels. The event had become all too common.

"You were taken by the Queen's decree, same as the rest of us." explained Lazharis with no hint of emotion, "Do you not remember?"

 

[Leatherhead]

"Gatherhold?" The man questions, studding Xian's face for a moment. With a bit of a surprised face, he turns to Vesile "Have your friends sit at the table, I'll get the grub." Before he disappears into another room.

GM: Insight DC 10: There is a twinge of unease about the man, as if he had just stumbled upon a great secret. Lazharis: You recognize this cant, it means he believes Xian to be telling the truth, as strange as someone coming from anywhere outside the city sounds. Nature check DC 5: You see a small grey bird kept in a cage in the next room. Nature check DC 10: The bird is a messenger pigeon, and a magebred one to boot.

The Hobgoblin takes a seat at the table, while motioning for everyone to join her. "How long have you been asleep then? What day do you think it is?"

 

[JustinCase]

Maladiel simply tells them the date, outwardly confident but unsure beneath his facade.

"It seems you are as surprised as us about being taken here, although apparently for varying reasons," his voice more softly and serious as the half-elf attempts to make some sense about this mess.

"What queen has issued a decree that says Sharn residents can be abducted while on holiday at Gatherhold? House Vadalis has no such title; none of the laths* would dare go that far; and all would think twice before going against allies of House Ghallandra or Clan Boromir. Not only would that cause a diplomatic riot, it goes directly against the Treaty of Thronehold!"

He sighs, still standing despite the invitation to sit. Instead he points to the next room and with a voice much darker than before, asks the man, "And why, pray tell, does he own a magebred pidgeon while those Vadalis abominations just tried to kill and eat us?"

OOC: * Laths are Talenta halfling tribe leaders, the Eberron wiki told me. Insight: 1D20+4 = [6]+4 = 10 Nature: 1D20+1 = [20]+1 = 21 Ha! The thing Maladiel is good at (insight) he rolls terrible for (although just enough), but nature, which is as far from him as can be, he aces! Edited post to adjust not talking to a man that isn't in the room anymore. Guess I missed that part. Now Maladiel is just talking to Vesile and you guys.

 

[Neurotic]

Malix observes the man and after he leaves asks quietly
"He is disturbed by something. Vesile, how much do you trust him? Besides having magebred animal over there, something about us is does not sit well with him."

He took the time from introductions to check inside the backpack he grabbed and after the man left he offers it to Xian.
"I believe this one is yours. Distribute weapons to those that have none. We may have to fight again."

Nature: 1D20 = [19] = 19
Passive insight is 15

 

[Hades#2]

Xian

Xian chose his words carefully. He had to be careful not to reveal their activities at the ranch.


"Last I knew it was the 2nd of Zarantyr, 998 YK. I arrived in Gatherhold on the 1st. I came out here to pay my respects to my cousin. She was lost, presumed dead, on the Day of Mourning. I woke up with the others in that prison camp."

 

[Neurotic]

OOC: Second what and what year we don't know how long they expect us to be out

 

[MetaVoid]

Ozzar takes some time to equip himself properly. With a pick in hand, shield on his arm and two axes, he feels much better

 

[Leatherhead]

"You were in Gatherhold, two days ago?" Shock creeps across Vesile's face. "How? The entire rest of the world blew up four years ago!"

The man walks back in with a dubious looking dish that could generously be called some kind of gruel, and place settings. "It seems, our beloved Queen Dannel ir'Wynarn, has been keeping a secret from the people." He observes with a sarcastic tone.

GM: History DC 5: Queen Dannel ir'Wynarn was the last living monarch of Cyre. Presumed killed by the Mourning. Her son, Prince Oargev ir'Wynarn is the defacto leader of the Cyran refugees, and has set up a city in western Breland called New Cyre.

He pours the slop into some bowls. "Yes, I know how it looks. But I assure you this Ragout was designed by your House Ghallandra friends, and is quite... edible. The rations here are quite thin you see." The man swallows a spoonful of the substance, a standard show of hospitality when the food is questionable, and sits down. "Where are my manners? I am Len Paddite, you have met Vesile and Lazharis." Len gestures to the companions you have made today, then takes a sip of the water, and continues. "The messenger pigeon, as you have noticed, is a necessity for communication nowadays. I raised her myself, from before this never-ending siege we are currently stuck in. House Sivis might not be able to monitor all forms of magical communications yet, but you never know which sending stones they are eavesdropping on."

GM: The pigeon is now gone. Insight DC 10: The man doesn't seem to wish you harm, and the food does not appear to be poisoned. Though calling it food is a stretch.

"It would be safe to assume the Queen wants you all gone. Given you were in that camp, and the scandalous information you posses. Lazharis, Vesile, would you care to give them a brief history lesson over dinner?"

 

[JustinCase]

Maladiel frowns.

"No, Cyre blew up! You mean to tell me we're inside the Mournlands somehow?"

Carefully he picks up a spoon and tastes the food. In any other case he would have declined, but his stomach is suddenly growling.

OOC: History: 1D20+1 = [11]+1 = 12 Insight: 1D20+4 = [12]+4 = 16

 

[Neurotic]

"Easy now. Why is it surprising they think the world disappeared? After all, we think Cyre was destroyed. And don't assume your queen knows more, you would have heard about slaves appearing out of thin air at some point, right? The question is, can we return? And can we reconnect you to the world?" Malix intervenes

 

[FitzTheRuke]

"If I have this straight," said Lazharis, in a tone that sounded like he didn't care either way, in spite this being to him, the most interesting thing that had happened in some time, "We are from different halves of the world; both of which think that the other was destroyed."

OOC: I'm not sure I'm up on the lore well enough to give much local history.

 

[Hades#2]

Xian contemplated the new information. If they were somehow inside the Mournland, formerly Cyre, how was that possible? Magic?

"Essentially you are telling us that we are in Cyre? We believe that Cyre was destroyed and you believe the rest of the world was destroyed. I wonder if there is some sort of magical barrier that prevents those inside Cyre from seeing the outside reality and, conversely, those outside are unable to see or detect what is really inside. Quite interesting. Based on this new information, I must conclude that my cousin may get live. Although that is not our primary concern. How long were the others help prisoner and how many others have gone missing?"

 

[Leatherhead]

Vesile takes out a stiff drink, and pours herself a shot.

"For the past four years, we have been trapped in this city, and in this siege." She says as she downs her drink. "Trapped under a dome of grey mist, one that not even the sun can pierce. Every night the Karnathi Necromancers send wave after wave of the undead against us. Every day, the Queen sends her minions out to gather resources and people to put on the wall. At first, it was just soldiers and Forged, but soon their numbers started dwindling."

"The Queen tasked the Dragonmarked houses to make up the difference, and they did, by kidnapping the people and twisting them in inhumane experiments. House Vadalis infects people with lycanthropy, or mutates them into other monsters. House Cannith has been chopping people up, and splicing them with the dead Forged found out on the battlefields. Not even the gods know what goes into this slop!" She points at the gruel.

"We tried to get out so many times." The words choke her and her eyes become wet "So many people lost, and nobody outside would answer any messages..."

"Rumors about the rest of the world being dead started around the end of the first year." The man solemnly continues for for the Hobgoblin. "After three years, more people believed them to be truer than not."

"We are members of the Unbroken. We oppose Queen Dannel, because we believe she has gone mad with grief over her dead country." He elaborates. "Many have. I couldn't tell you the number of days I spent at the bottom of a bottle because of it. Unfortunately, the Queen isn't taking a day off to grieve. She is still in power, and has become as big a threat as the Karnathi outside."

"Your arrival might just be the wildcard we need to start turning things around." There is a hint of hope, and a bit of pleading in that last sentence.